Air Rifle

Okay so I have begun the search for an air rifle and I am completely overwhelmed with all the options. Here is what I am looking: something to shoot in my backyard, train my boys on, under $300, durable, and reliable. Any suggestions? Thanks

I have been thinking and looking at the GAMO Whisper Fusion Air Rifle so I can shoot in the basement and for the grandchildren who are under 6 YOA. From what I have researched for the money I believe I will select one of those!

Ive got the Gamo Silent Cat and shoot it in my southern California back yard every weekend. I got a small home range at around 30 yards that works fine. The rifle was a little over $200 on sale and its fun and pretty accurate.

Are you looking for a bb and pellet rifle or just a full blown one pump pellet rifle. I won't lie I spent most my free time up till my freshman year shooting either the old mossberg 22lr or the old daisy bb/ pellet rifle in the back yard. Used bb's for plinking cans and what not and pellets for hunting also got a good workout from all the pumping between shots.

Right now I have a Crossman Storm XT, single pump pellet rifle in .177 cal easy to use easy to shoot knocks the snot out of squrriels, rabbits, and rats not to mention anything else. I like my rifle it was only $120 if ai remember right and I've had it for a good long while now no problems.

It's a good rifle but if you can get a better rifle for the money I would, this was a rifle I could afford at the time and it's just a basic pellet rifle.

I picked up a cheap ($80) Crossman Phantom at Walmart. I was surprised at the power and accuracy. I had a rabbit, squirrel and chipmunk problem, Problem solved. Garden safe. The grandkids have become rather proficient at 50 cents per rabbit. There are many better air rifles i'm sure, but for the money it's a good buy, 1200 fps with HV pellets. capable of 1 inch groups at 25 yards. I've shot over 1500 pellets without any problems and don't foresee any. It was definitely worth the price.

You can get a decent spring piston air rifle for under $200. The newer nitrogen charged pistons are supposed to be an upgrade but I have not shot one yet. The full pneumatic air rifles are expensive and very powerful with much larger calibers available. They are true hunting rifles. The air rifle is often overlooked as a survival tool. They can easily take small game such as squirrel and rabbit very quietly and you would not even notice 500 pellets in a pocket.

Ive seen videos of 75 caliber "pellet guns" shooting through cinder blocks. Theres even a guy claiming he took down a wild hog with a Gamo pellet rifle, 1 shot to the head i guess its possible with the .22 caliber pellet rifles.

Ive seen videos of 75 caliber "pellet guns" shooting through cinder blocks. Theres even a guy claiming he took down a wild hog with a Gamo pellet rifle, 1 shot to the head i guess its possible with the .22 caliber pellet rifles.

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I've seen videos of that...not sure if it was 75 caliber, but it was definitely way bigger than a .177

Both of the Rifles were under $200.
Top one is a Hatsan 86 Sniper .177 cal.
Bottom one is Ruger Air Magnum .22 Cal

Both will shoot 1" groups ,consistently, once you find the pellet it likes.

Either one will kill Rabbits or Squirrel ,once you finf the best pellet for the gun.
Both will shoot 850-1200 fps, depending on weight and config of pellet.
I killed 10 rabbits in 3 weeks early this Spring, each one, was one shot, one kill. Two of them were at 49 yrds, most were 25-35 yrds.
The .22 cal is quicker ,more humane

BTW, the pistol is a Ruger Mark1, with a lot of trigger work, will also kill rabbits at 35 yrds at 600fps. Groups 1" at 15 yards.

I would like to say ,that , pellet technology has developed some truly amazing ballistics improvements in the last few years.
Therefore pellets will determine your accuracy and kill ability as much or more than the gun itself.
That being said, a quality gun is essential to start with.
(No secret ,I like the Hatsan, Turkish made break barrel air rifles, using German made barrels)
BTW, any scope ,other than one designed for air rifles, will not survive the 2 way recoil. Both of mine use the Centerpoint scopes, made for air guns.

Not much different than a normal rifle, IE..best rifle made ,with garbage ammo usually dont give you tight groups,

I've killed many many squirrels and rabbits with a daisy bb gun that advertises up to 400 fps. , certainly not ideal by any means, but you asked. You can buy a 1200 fps air rifle for less than $100. that is very adequate. I for one hate the sound of a screaming rabbit!

Thanks for the info. I was just curious. I've been shopping around trying to find a decent pellet rifle in my price range that will take down small game. Looks like I have a lot more options then I initially thought.

I bought a Benjamin nitro 22 cal breakdown pellet rifle. After a couple thousand rounds the Benjamin literally fell apart. I got it through Walmart site to store. I took the Benjamin back to Walmart for a refund. It seems like Benjamin could put locktite on the screws of a $260 pellet gun.

I have a Crosman 177 cal phantom that shoots great with Benjamin Premier pellets. It has shot great for years.